Choose an air fryer if you often prepare small or medium portions that are crispy, roasted or grilled, and you have space to keep it. It does not automatically replace an oven: a single-drawer model suits everyday portions of the same type, while two compartments are more useful for cooking two foods with different settings, although they take up more space. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers partly overlap with an oven’s cooking, roasting and grilling uses.
Consider one if the smell associated with traditional frying puts you off and you are looking for hot-air cooking for crispy, roasted or grilled food. UFC-Que Choisir notes that this smell may lead some consumers to choose oil-free fryers.
This format may suit you if you regularly prepare small portions and have room on your worktop. UFC-Que Choisir gives 3 to 4 l as a guide for one or two people, but you should compare this with the actual size of your portions.
Two cooking zones can be useful when two foods with different cooking times need to finish together. However, you will need to accept a larger appliance and check that the cooking results are suitable in each zone.
Your choice mainly depends on how often you will use it, the genuinely usable capacity and the space available. The guidance below is based on the uses and tests described by UFC-Que Choisir.
Choose this if: you mainly cook one type of food at a time, for one or two people or for consistent-sized portions.
Bear in mind: a single basket limits parallel cooking, and food that is stacked too closely cooks less evenly.
Choose this if: you often prepare two parts of a meal with different cooking times or temperatures and want them to finish together.
Bear in mind: two drawers do not necessarily create one large cavity, and results may vary from one zone to the other.
Keep it if: your usual meals are already well covered by your oven’s cooking, roasting and grilling functions.
Bear in mind: you avoid adding another appliance, but miss out on a compact format dedicated to small portions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| A distinct use from your oven | Compare your usual recipes with the cooking, roasting and grilling functions already available. Allow space for storage and cleaning. | I want an appliance I will genuinely use every week, rather than a duplicate for recipes that are already handled well by my oven. |
| Usable capacity | Look at the usable volume, basket surface area and the space needed between foods. For chips, you may need to limit the fill level and shake them during cooking. | My portions need to fit without requiring several batches or overfilling the basket. A large litre figure alone does not meet this need. |
| Meal planning | For two dishes, check the capacity of each zone, independent settings and the synchronisation function. For a single dish, one basket may be enough. | I sometimes prepare two foods at once with different settings; otherwise, I prefer a simpler format that is easier to handle. |
| Noise and maintenance | Look for an independent noise measurement at 50 cm if you have an open-plan kitchen. Also check how the baskets and plates are cleaned, as well as storage requirements. | In a small kitchen or near a work area, I need to be able to tolerate the fan noise and maintain the appliance without excessive hassle. |
A high litre figure does not guarantee that a large quantity will cook properly. Food needs room, and an overfilled basket may mean several batches or less even cooking.
Compare the basket surface area, usable volume, whether food can be arranged in a single layer and the size of your usual portions. For chips, UFC-Que Choisir uses a maximum fill level of two-thirds of the basket in its testing protocol.
An air fryer also uses circulating hot air and overlaps with an oven’s cooking, roasting and grilling functions. Without a frequent, specific use, it may become a redundant appliance.
List three specific weekly meals you would cook in the appliance, then check whether they are already prepared satisfactorily in your oven.
An additional appliance also requires storage space, cleaning and room on your worktop.
The fan needed for convection can be intrusive during meals, while working from home or in a small property. A quick listen in a shop does not necessarily reflect how it will sound at home.
Prioritise an independent noise measurement at 50 cm where available, plan where the appliance will actually go and do not rely solely on a marketing claim that it is quiet.
Two zones let you programme different foods and synchronise the end of cooking, but results may vary depending on the zone used.
Choose this format for the specific need to cook two dishes in parallel, and consult tests covering both zones when even cooking is crucial.
These Joybuy options include single-drawer and dual-compartment air fryers for everyday portions, family meals or two dishes cooked in parallel.
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Worth considering for two dishes with different cooking times or temperatures, thanks to its two independent drawers.
Advertised capacity of 4.75 L per zone, or 9.5 L in total; six advertised functions and removable dishwasher-safe baskets.
Its advertised dimensions are 32.5 × 41.5 × 27 cm and its weight is 8.8 kg. Check the space available and bear in mind that results may vary between the two zones.
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This single basket is designed for medium portions or a shared meal when you are cooking one type of food at a time.
Advertised capacity of 7.6 L and Air Fry, Roast, Grill, Bake, Dehydrate, Max Crisp and Keep Warm functions.
A shake reminder and dishwasher-safe baskets or plates are advertised. Check the dimensions, noise level and usable volume for your kitchen and dishes.
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This model may suit two foods cooked in parallel or an occasional need for a larger cavity.
Two advertised 4.5 L baskets with independent times and temperatures, or an advertised 10 L configuration. Advertised temperature range of 40 to 200 °C and ten programmes.
Removable non-stick baskets are advertised. Check the dimensions, weight, noise level and the space genuinely available in the baskets before buying.
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Its single-basket format is suited to small everyday portions rather than two dishes with separate settings.
Advertised capacity of 4 L, temperature range of 35 to 200 °C, timer from 1 to 60 minutes and eight pre-set modes.
Its advertised dimensions are 38 × 27.5 × 31.6 cm and its weight is 4.3 kg. Check the usable volume and noise level if the appliance is intended for an open-plan kitchen.
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This option is designed for small batches or reheating leftovers in glass containers.
Advertised containers of 1.4 L and 3.8 L, temperature of approximately 70 to 185 °C and Air Fry, Roast, Keep Warm and Recrisp functions.
The containers and accessories are advertised as dishwasher-safe. Check how it should be used if you want to cook two dishes at the same time, as well as the noise level for an open-plan kitchen.
No. It can cook, roast or grill using circulating hot air, much like an oven. UFC-Que Choisir recommends avoiding unnecessary duplication when your oven already meets your needs; an air fryer makes more sense if it offers a frequent use suited to portions that fit its cavity.
As a guide published by UFC-Que Choisir, allow 3 to 4 l for one or two people, 5 to 6 l for three to four people and 7 to 9 l for five to six people. Also check the usable volume, basket shape, your usual quantities and the space needed to avoid overcrowding the food.
They are useful if you often cook two different foods at the same time and synchronising the end of cooking means you do not have to wait between dishes. Check the capacity of each zone: UFC-Que Choisir notes that results are not necessarily identical depending on the zone used.
The noise comes from the fan required for convection. Prioritise an independent measurement at 50 cm where available, and plan the appliance’s position while taking other noisy equipment used at the same time into account.
Check the instructions, how easy the controls are to use, cleaning, storage and which accessories are genuinely useful for your recipes. UFC-Que Choisir includes these aspects in its testing protocol; then follow the instructions specific to the model you choose.